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Saturday, April 02, 2011

M.A.P.P. Class One

So our first class was today and amazingly we made it on time! Those of you who know my lovely husband in person know that Cris is on "Ecuadorian" time...which means always late. He has been so great through out everything so far! We are in a class with about 28 other people. Class was interesting and very interactive. And the participants definitely took part. Which is nice!

Class started with a 5 minute presentation of Foster Care and Adoption through the eyes of a child ... it made me cry. I am such a sap. Today's discussion was mostly about how children end up in Foster Care.
The class is filed with people from all walks of life and some are there to be Foster Parents and some for Adoption. I know I could never just be a foster parent, I would not be able to keep unattached enough to not be broken hearted when a child goes back to their family. Most of the people seem cool, I was surprised at how many people were much older, many were grandparents. Those people were there to do Foster care. There were a few couples that want to adopt. I meet some cool people which I can see becoming good support for each other through out the process and after, once we are all thrown into being families. Cris and I clicked with one couple in particular... Leigh Anne and Jerel. And I also liked this other couple Mary Elizabeth and her husband Roger...they are adopting for the 4th time. Mary Elizabeth grew up about 30 minutes away from where I did. Leigh Ann and Jerel seem to be the most like us . They are dog people like us :o)
Most people seemed to be looking for children around 6. They told us that 93% of the children in the system right now are African American with an average age of 11. And that they also work cases for the older children first. Since we have a range of 6-12 I am hoping we will get good placement in line.

I am glad we finished our million question profiles because we received homework... another 23 essay questions.

I have a little editing to do on my scrapbook, but overall I am very happy with it!
Waiting to hear back on our fingerprints and then we can have our home study.

Cris is still interested in pursuing the surrogate route using his sperm and a donor egg in Ecuador but is going to hold off for a couple years yet. We are going to concentrate on this now and then eventually look at expanding our family either by surrogate or adoption again. I get nervous about the surrogate route because we would have to deal with Immigration again, and that was nerve wrecking getting Cris his permanent status. But we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Cris had to go into work for a bit, so I think I will work on editing the scrapbook :)

Sounds like things are moving right along for you. And you know, if you used a state side surrogate you would not need to deal with immigration. If you want to talk more about this, let me know and I can give you any guidance I can. So very happy for you!!

The Road Home...

01/06/2011- Submitted Application to CHS02/19/2011- First Meeting with Social Worker- filled out initial paperwork03/26/2011- Finger Printing04/01/2011- 05/014/2011- MAPP Training04/09/2011- Assigned 2nd Social Worker04/23/2011- Background Checks Cleared04/26/2011- Home Visit05/02/2011- Fire Inspection05/03/2011- Had to get Manual Finger Prints because electronic ones I was advised to get done are only good for 30 days05/08/2011- Our Profiles Turned in to Social Worker05/23/2011- References Done06/06/2011- Per Social Worker CHS is processing all our paperwork (can take up to 50 days for approval)06/07/2011- Marriage Certificate and Divorce Decrees mailed to Greensboro06/08/2011- Discipline Agreement Signed and Mailed in06/16/2011- Photo Profiles mailed to Greensboro06/24.2011- Mailed in Diplomas to Greensboro07/08/2011- Home Visit from social worker- requesting I see therapist07/19/2011- Start therapy08/02/2011- Assigned 3rd Social Worker08/09/2011- physicals/tb test08/13/2011- met new Social Worker - another Home Visit for Foster Home Application08/29/2011- psychological testing, couples therapy and released from therapy (therapist saying she can not find anything wrong)09/16/2011- psychological reports mailed in.10/05/2011- 12 Skills worksheet filled out and turned in10/06/2011- Vet Records submitted10/8/2011- received a call telling us they have children that they think we will be perfect parents for ( but 3 boys).10/25/2011- another Home Visit. Signed our foster home application. Told our paperwork should be sent up to the committee in about a week. Gave her copies of reference letters that had previously been sent to old social worker11/05/2011 Received an email that we need another Home Visit to finalize paperwork.11/10/2011 Home Study sent from our social worker to her supervisor for approval (it then comes to us for approval then the review committee)11/20/2011 Contact with family about adopting Baby L :) . Email to Social Worker about expediting our foster license11/22/2011 Second Fire Inspection (first one expired)11/23/2011 told needed to replace marriage license and divorce decrees ( ordered from NY State and awaiting delivery) Mike sent me his original and I ordered a copy for him, and we had one last original of marriage certificate.12/06/2011- Should receive final divorce decree today.12/23/2012- CHS Approved Home Studdy (PPA)02/24/2012- Inquiry sent to Children Awaiting Parents about Sweetie & her Sister in Florida02/28/2012- Foster License Arrived03/06/2012- Paperwork filled out Florida paperwork to proceed with matching03/19/13- Match Staffing Scheduled and we were approved to be a match for Sweetie04/08/2012- First Phone Call05/11/2012- 05/13/2012- First Meeting In Florida06/08/2012- 06/17/2012 Trip to Disney and First visit to NC for Sweetie07/14/2012- Sweetie Moved In!07/26/2012- Sweetie mailed in her consent to be adopted09/14-09/26/2012- Sweetie hospitalized10/06/2012- ADOPTION FINALIZED!! Sweetie is legally our daughter12/24/2012- Sweetie’s Birth Certificate with us listed as parents arrived02/22/2013- Sweetie admitted to PRTF08/22/2013-Sweetie discharged from PRTF10/30/2013- Sweetie Hospitalized 2nd time11/11/2013- Sweetie admitted to different PRTF05/30/2014- Sweetie discharged from 2nd PRTF & started Day Treatment07/3/14 -07/18/14-Sweetie Hospitalized for 3rd time07/18/14-08/10/2014 - Sweetie in temporary group home08/10/2014-Sweetie admitted to 3rd PRTF10/05/2014- Child #2 -Matched with birth mom- she is 4 months pregnant.10/05/2014 fundraising started, lawyer and home study agencies secured.10/22/2014- first fundraising goal of $2000 raised by doing envelope fundraiser and selling my watercolor paintings10/22/2014- first meeting with adoption lawyer- retainer paid10/24/14- Background checks completed10/25/2014- physicals complete11/07/2014- home study paperwork mailed to Triangle Adoption Services. (Home study paid11/14/14 Homestudy paperwork sent in to agency11/19/14 First call with Birth Mom :)11/25/15- Social Worker interviewed Sweetie12/03/14- First email communication with Birth Mom12/06/14- Met Birth Mom and her family12/11/2014- Home Study Visit12/17/14- 2nd Home Study Visit & visit with baby's mom12/31/14- Ultrasound to find out it is a BOY! Baby Spartacus!01/21/15- Birth mom signs initial legal paperwork, legal father signs consent form for adoption01/22/15- Home Study Approved01/26/15- Cherokee Indian Tribe consented to adoption03/09/15- Baby Spartacus is born03/10/15- Bio mom relinquished rights03/16/15- Bio father served to request relinquishment.04/21/15- Bio father contest adoption6/12/15- Spartacus meets his birth brother on mom's side. :)06/17/15- Court hearing for necessity of birth father's consent.07/03/15- Motion Granted that father's consent not required.07/21/15- Home Study Agency sent Court Report in so adoption can be finalized.08/04/15- Spartacus' adoption finalized!!!!!08/21/15- Sweetie transitioned to IAFT06/08/16- Sweetie transitioned to TFC- she changes her plan to reunification with birth family when 18 (1.5 years from now)09/30/16- Sweetie transferred to another placement due to behavioral issues. It is decided, there will be no reunification with our family. Her plan is to stay in TFC as long as possible and then transition into living.04/19/2017- Sweetie transferred to another placement due to behavioral issues. Wrap Around Services Started06/21/2017- Sweetie started with Youth Villages Life Set Program08/14/2017- Youth Villages Life Set Program terminated due to Sweetie refusing to work the program09/20/2017- Wrap Around Services Terminated due to Sweetie refusing to work the program.